camping out and a buck

One of the greatest advantages of living in the woods is having free space to do whatever you want. It has been our goal for a while to clear out an area and make it our personal camping grounds. Senior and the boys worked hard on this particular spot. However finding the right time proved a big challenge. Fall baseball consumed our weekends as well as trips down to check on mom, finally this past weekend our calendar was clear and the weather was nice so the guys pitched their Hennessy Hammocks, packed a small cooler, and headed out into the woods.

I, JUGM did not camp this time, but did hike out for a visit and dinner with them around the campfire. Then a little rain hit, but that did not dampen their spirits, Senior and his boys had a great time bonding and simply relaxing.

The week before Halloween, I was checking the trail camera and looked what popped up! A nice little 8 point. So have appropriately named him "8-ball". While out camping Saturday night Senior and NW caught site of him about 30 yards away, and I tell ya he is a big boy. We were amazed that he ventured so close to the camping spot, especially since they were not Scent blocked. The next morning they checked some of the trees and saw where he has been rubbing his antlers.

Rabbit to left, Buck to the center right (date correct, time wrong)

Last weekend we also took down what was left of the summer garden. Our freezer is now packed with green beans, and okra. The cabinets are packed with homemade tomato sauce and pickled okra. All that is left is the row of collard greens and food plots. It saddens me in a way, but I am also happy for the break.

As I said above we have been back and forth to see mom.. All I can ask for  is prayer please? The situation with her house, and her deteriorating health is bad. We pray every day for Gods mercy....

-JUGM

wildlife and the garden

Sorry for the lack of post. All I can say is we have just been busy with work, fall baseball, and school. So here is a update on all that's been going on around here:

Recently, we put out some more deer feeders, and planted our food plots. With the unseasonably warm weather we have had the past month the deer were slow to show. Then this past week a cold front moved through, Senior said to be on the look out because they move around more in cooler weather. Well,  this morning the dogs started barking, I  looked out the window and saw this doe and her two fawns smack in the middle of our driveway of all places eating acorns. Then they drifted to the edge of the woods and hung out there for another 30 minutes. I quickly grabbed my camera to show Senior and the boys.

Usually, when we see deer its at night on our trail camera, or they are running across the road in front of us. We never see them this close to the house but here they were just right outside our front door. I got to tell how serene and peaceful the moment was to sit there and watch nature at its best.

Again being surrounded by woods makes for lots of wildlife..one morning I sat on the porch with camera in hand watching the hummingbirds:

We have had two male cardinals around the property on a regular basis. I usually see them early in the mornings

  Things in the garden are starting to come to a seasonal end, we have given away so much okra that we could have opened our own road side stand and made a nice profit ( hmmmm   ideas for next year).  Senior and the boys love it pickled, so I made a few jars enhanced with red peppers

  Tomato's have been coming off the vines like tic- tacs, so I processed some sauce:

  Then there are the Collard Greens..  leaves so big they look like elephant ears. I was approached by a local culinary school about them, the head instructor wanted some for a function his students were cooking for. He also wanted to give a lesson in cooking traditional southern foods, so I loaded up a garbage bag full and donated them to the culinary school. They have also started buying eggs from us as well...that helps with the chicken feed cost.

The summer growing season has been long and I think we are all ready for a rest. We love being so self sufficient and able to store away all the good things we have grown. I will miss our daily chore of picking our veggies, but spring will be here before you know it and planning for next season has already started.

-JUGM and SENIOR